SPRINGFIELD-Illinois joined 49 other states Tuesday by approving legislation allowing gun owners to carry their weapons in public places, overriding Gov. Pat Quinn and dealing the governor a resounding defeat.

The Senate put the finishing touches on the override push, voting 41-17 to reject a series of changes Quinn had recommended to the concealed-carry legislation that passed in May. The Senates action followed a 77-31 vote by the House earlier Tuesday.

Speaking of non residents, they as of right now get to carry a loaded handgun in a car. Not Illinois residents though, not even with a non resident permit. This law was very careful to discriminate against us Illinois folks.

I know. I’m very glad we are able to bear arms now however it is still out of reach for many. I guess the only ones with their constitutional right here are those with some money to burn. I mean, it’s the principle of the thing. Maybe it’s in line with other states for all I know but it doesn’t seem like it should cost over a hundred bucks just to file a form with the state.

Right, and the fact that the law treats Illinois citizens differently than non-Illinois citizens in our own state is a violation of the Equal Protection provision in the U.S. Constitution.

I went on record early as saying this "law" is a sham, and needs to be appealed all the way up to the USSC and have it over-turned which would then (I think..) result in Illinois becoming a CONSTITUTIONAL carry state, which is my personal preference.

I know. Im very glad we are able to bear arms now however it is still out of reach for many.

Hate to break the news to you, but what the Illinois Legislature passed is NOT a Conceal/Carry law. You CAN NOT carry a loaded weapon on your person under the new law.

It's more a "fanny pack" law than anything else. You can carry an UN-LOADED weapon on your person only. The way the law is written and as I've read, you can carry a weapon in a fanny pack or holster but it cannot be loaded. You can simultaneously carry a magazine or speedloader on your person but the two must be separate.

This means when you're getting robbed, mugged or raped, you'll need to ask the criminal to "please stop" while you load your weapon.

It's flat out ridiculous in that regard and IMO will get over-turned once appealed up to the USSC. That was the Illinois dumb-ass politicians (D's and R's alike) intention in the first place. Anything to delay implementation in their book!

Probably the best link on the subject of Illinois "Conceal/Carry" law that I've found is right Here. From the source:

The Concealed carry portion of the law is horrid. Written by the Chicago anti civil rights bunch and full of delays and traps and criminal penalties to Illinois License to Carry holders. In fact, it will be a year before the first license is issued. I'll leave my discussion of that horrid discriminatory part of the bill for later.

What else is in the bill? Well, state wide pre-emption and the revocation of ALL local ordinances concerning "handguns". Gone are magazine limits, and unconstitutional "transport" restrictions from dozens of Home Rule Communities. No more Chicago transport laws about "broken down" or "ammunition" separate. One law state wide. It's Fanny Pack Day! All you need is a FOID card or be a non resident.

Speaking of non residents, they as of right now get to carry a loaded handgun in a car. Not Illinois residents though, not even with a non resident permit. This law was very careful to discriminate against us Illinois folks.

However, if you have a concealed carry permit from ANY state, OR if you are either 18 or 21 without any permit or background check or anything from the following states:

Then, you can drive or ride around Chicago or anywhere in the state with your loaded Glock and 30 round magazine AND you don't have to inform the cops when you are stopped.

No Illinois residents though. It's for the children.

What is left for Illinois residents, today, right now, is commonly referred to as "Container Transport" or "Fanny Pack Carry". It means having a FOID card (Illinois residents only) and transporting your firearm "Unloaded and enclosed in a case". Ammo is not regulated and you can have loaded magazines or speed loaders in the same case or in your pocket, or in an ammo pouch on your belt. Everywhere in Illinois! Also, there are different prohibited places for "Transport" than for concealed carry ; license holders. Places prohibited like public transportation or neighborhood festvals for concealed carry are perfectly fine to "Container Transport". Research these yourself.

So, a bad concealed carry laws passes, but a great Container Transport one does at the same time.

While transport of an unloaded firearm in a fannypack may not be optimum, it is far from useless either. This seems to be a little known feature of the new law.

As I've said: this law as written is a direct violation of the EQUAL PROTECTION clause of the United States Constitution. It treats Illinois residents differently under the law than residents visiting Illinois from other states who have conceal-carry permits from their home states.

I fully expect that once wind of that violation is caught by the NRA or other interested parties in Illinois, an appeal will be forthcoming and I expect this poorly written law designed to discriminate against the residents of this state will be shot down (no pun intended) by the USSC, or hopefully the Appeals Court first.

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